Class X Board

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a new grading system for Class X students from the academic year 2009-10. The idea behind the proposed grading system was to minimise unnecessary pressure and classification among students on the basis of marks.

Having decided upon making Hindi a compulsory subject in all high school examinations, the Mayawati government in UP has ensured that all UP board students appearing for the Class X examinations take the national language seriously; not as one which they can afford to neglect and still pass.

While the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has finally agreed upon the HRD Minister Kapil Sibal’s proposal of introducing grading in Class X examinations, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) board seems to be in no such frame of mind.

Not only is the ICSE against the grading system for class X it is also not likely to make the boards optional for the tenth class students, as per the ICSE chairman, Neil O’Brien.

While the new evaluation system initially came as a piece of good news for all students and their parents there are new doubts beginning to sprout as the initial euphoria over the change has died down. Fearing that the changed system would lead to more at home assignments for them the students are beginning to get vary if it.

The soon to be announced, revised grading system for Class X, under the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), is receiving many speculations from all concerned. Wondering as to how the system will shape up to be a reliable successor to the board exams, all eyes are on HRD Minister Kapil Sibal now.

While students are celebrating, teachers are found frowning over the HRD ministry’s latest move to make the Class X board exams optional. Stepping up the pace of his 100 day agenda to reform the Indian education system, the Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has announced this move, despite negative feedback from both parents as well as teachers.

In the fourth round of interactive sessions organized by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Union Human Resource Minister Kapil Sibal went all out to explain to the parents, teachers and students various changes planned under the upcoming education reforms.

In a first of its kind, India’s largest school board – the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) – is asking its students their views making the Class X external public examination optional, as part of the planned reforms.

Distancing himself from the move to scrap Class X board exam and abolish the state boards, Professor Yashpal said, "Though I had suggested a uniform examination pattern throughout the country, I did not recommend doing away with the state boards.” 

 In his scheme of things, the Union Minister of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Kapil Sibal, has made it clear that there is provision for just one national examination board. At present there are two national boards in the country in addition to many state-wise boards.